Bhattarai’s pursuit of an alternative political force

Nearly a decade ago, Baburam Bhattarai broke away from the CPN (Maoist Center) to form a new political party, aiming to provide an alternative to the established parties. His departure was rooted in the belief that, while existing parties had successfully drafted Nepal’s new constitution and ended a prolonged transitional period, they lacked the vision and capability to foster sustainable economic growth and political stability. Bhattarai urged Maoist Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal to abandon Maoism in favor of socialism, but Dahal declined.

Since then, Bhattarai’s vision of creating an alternative force has yet to materialize. His former allies within the Maoist party have returned to support Dahal’s CPN (Maoist Center), and Bhattarai’s influence in national politics has waned, with no parliamentary representation for his party.

In the 2022 elections, Bhattarai had a strong chance of winning in Gorkha-2 but chose to back the CPN (Maoist Center) in exchange for support for his daughter, Manushi Yami Bhattarai, in Kathmandu-7. Despite Bhattarai’s hopes, his party faced heavy defeats in both 2017 and 2022 elections. Nevertheless, he maintains that only a new political force can lead Nepal towards political stability and economic progress, predicting further frustration and potential anarchism if the current major parties continue to dominate.

Bhattarai has suggested a merger of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center), though he believes even a united party would lose relevance within a decade. Reflecting on the Maoist movement, he sees its historic role as complete, with the remaining task of evolving into an “enhanced and enriched socialism” within a participatory and inclusive democracy. He dismisses the notion of reuniting all Maoist factions as impractical and unnecessary.

Regarding the Nepali Congress (NC), Bhattarai believes it will weaken further but continue to play a moderate role. He argues that Nepal needs a new center-left political alternative, although his efforts to build such a force have so far failed. While several smaller parties, such as Rastriya Swatantra Party, have emerged claiming an alternative stance, they have not yet become formidable players. Figures like Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and the Bibeksheel Sajha Party also represent this potential but remain largely marginalized in national politics.

Despite these setbacks, Bhattarai remains committed to forming an alternative political front. In 2016, he launched the Naya Shakti Party, although it went through several transformations and mergers, including with Upendra Yadav's party. The recent reversion to the name ‘Naya Shakti Party’ and the reinstatement of its original flag underscore Bhattarai’s determination to revive his initial vision.

Bhattarai’s Nepal Samajbadi Party (NSP) has outlined key priorities: advocating for a directly elected executive president, a fully proportional legislative system, and accelerated action on transitional justice through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Enforced Disappeared Persons. The party has also called for an investigation into the misuse of funds within the cooperative sector, demanding justice for depositors and impartial prosecution of wrongdoers, regardless of political connections.

On disaster management, NSP urges the government to assess recent flooding and landslide damages, deliver immediate relief, and initiate infrastructure rehabilitation. They emphasize preparedness and resource allocation for disaster response, calling on the state to maintain a robust readiness for any future crises.

In combating corruption, the NSP demands the formation of a Jan-Lokpal commission with the authority to investigate major corruption cases and prosecute offenders from all levels of government. Furthermore, they stress the importance of infrastructure development, urging the government to prioritize highway expansion and transportation improvements.

On international matters, the NSP has condemned Israeli actions against Palestinians and encouraged the Nepalese government to adopt a clear stance on international conflicts. The party has called for diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Nepali citizen Bipin Joshi, reportedly held by Hamas.